Haika-Belinda John Macha is a Partner and Heads the Firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Department. She is an Advocate of the Court of Appeal, High Court of Tanzania and Courts subordinate thereto. She is a member of Tanganyika Law Society, East Africa Law Society, International Trademark Association (INTA), New York and currently she is serving as a member of the INTA Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. She is an Arbitrator (Associate Member) of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators-London and Tanzania Institute of Arbitrators.

Her practice area covers banking, intellectual property, commercial litigation, employment and labour relations matters, mergers and acquisitions, competition, conveyance and real estate, public law and policy, and compliance matters. Key advisory and transactions she has handled include:

• Advised financiers/JV Partners of the Real Estate-Joint Venture transactions for the accommodation apartments and commercial buildings located at Oysterbay and Masaki, Dar es Salaam.
• Advised on the merger and acquisition transaction of CSI Engineering by CSI Energy Group, a Mauritius Energy Firm, US$ 3 Million transaction.
• Advised on the conveyance acquisition transaction for the engineering industrial property of by CSI Energy Group, a Mauritius Energy Firm, US$ 3 Million transaction.
• Advised on the merger and acquisition of Coastal Fanjove Private Island located in Kilwa, Tanzania by a South Africa Hospitality Company, a US$ 3 Million transaction.
• Advised on the merger and acquisition of Rhino Lodge, a lodge base on Ngorongoro Crater by a South Africa Hospitality Company, a US$2 Million transaction.
• Advised and represented various Clients to fight counterfeits products imitating well-known trademarks and famous brands before the Registrar of Trade and Service Marks and Fair Competition Commission (FCC).
• Advised and conducted due diligence for the BancABC on the legal steps and procedures for the increase of its share capital, US$ 4 Million transaction.
• She has successfully represented a Foreign Government in a land dispute matter before the High Court; the land is worth to the tune of US$ 5 Million.
• She handles the litigation and dispute resolution portfolio of the firm, and regularly advised Clients on various updates on the various legislation changes.
• She heads the firm research and development unit, with various trainings development that the firm regularly conducted to the Clients.
• Advised Swiss investment entity on securing equity to the Mining Company over advanced financing to the Mining Company for the value of US$ 500,000.
• She contributes regularly to the World Bank Group research on the world business competition surveys for Tanzania (Doing Business).
• She is a regular and lead contributor to the Lexology Getting the Deal Through for the Tanzania Chapter on the Trademarks Practice.

She is an avid negotiator and very experienced in utilizing the ADR techniques of negotiation and mediation in resolving commercial disputes involving clients, to minimize the risks and cost of litigation.

In light of her specialist experience and practice, she is passionate leading the firm’s training and research development practice.